Plasmonic correlation spectrometer

Abstract

A correlation spectrometer can include a sample cell, a plasmonic array, a light source that can be used to illuminate both the plasmonic array and the sample cell, and an infrared (IR) detector that is connected to the plasmonic array, and that is configured to receive and detect surface plasmons. The plasmonic array is modulated to transmit a surface plasmon at a predetermined resonance peaks that correspond to resonant peaks for a compound of interest (COI). If the COI is present in the sample cell, a surface plasmon having resonant peaks corresponding to the COI resonant peaks is generated in the plasmonic array and detected by the IR detector. The plasmonic can be formed with a plurality of nanoholes with different periodicities and fill factors, in order to detect multiple COI.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A correlation spectrometer comprising:
 a plasmonic array: 
 a sample cell; 
 a light source illuminating said plasmonic array and said sample cell; 
 means for modulating said plasmonic array to transmit a surface plasmon having at least one predetermined resonance peak corresponding to a compound of interest, said predetermined resonance peak occurring when said compound is interest (COI) is present in said sample cell, and, 
 wherein said modulating means comprises placing said plasmonic array through a flow of various nontoxic fluids to create resonance peaks at different wavelengths than that of said predetermined resonance peak. 
 
     
     
       2. The spectrometer of  claim 1  wherein said modulating means comprises varying the angle of incidence of said light source upon said plasmonic array. 
     
     
       3. The spectrometer of  claim 1  further comprising an infrared (IR) detector connected to said plasmonic array and configured for receiving said surface plasmon at said resonance peak. 
     
     
       4. The spectrometer of  claim 1  wherein said plasmonic array is formed with a plurality of nanoholes. 
     
     
       5. The spectrometer of  claim 4  wherein said nanoholes are spaced-apart with at a plurality of periodicities for detection of a plurality of said resonant peaks, each said resonant peak corresponding to a respective periodicity. 
     
     
       6. The spectrometer of  claim 5  wherein said periodicity has a range from 380 nanometers to 10 micrometers. 
     
     
       7. The spectrometer of  claim 6  wherein said nanoholes are formed with a predetermined fill factor that is chosen to yield a predetermined bandwidth for said predetermined resonant peak. 
     
     
       8. The spectrometer of  claim 6  wherein said modulating means comprises orienting said light source in a mode selected from (1, 0), (−1,0), (0, 1), (0, −1), (1,1) and (−1, −1) modes. 
     
     
       9. A method of conducting correlation spectroscopy comprising the steps of:
 A) providing a sample cell with a compound of interest; 
 B) affording a plasmonic array; 
 C) illuminating said sample cell and said plasmonic array with a light source; 
 D) modulating said plasmonic array so that a surface plasmon propagates along said plasmonic array at a predetermined resonance peak that corresponds to said compound of interest, and; 
 wherein said step D) is accomplished by establishing a flow of various nontoxic fluids having indices of refractions other than said resonance peak corresponding to said compound of interest. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9  wherein said step D) is accomplished by varying the angle of incidence of said light source upon said plasmonic array. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 9  wherein said step D) is accomplished by orienting said light source in a mode selected from (1, 0), (−1,0), (0, 1), (0, −1), (1,1) and (−1, −1) modes. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 9  further comprising the step of:
 E) detecting said resonance peak with an infrared (IR) detector connected to said plasmonic array. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 9  wherein said step B) is accomplished with an plasmonic array that is formed with a plurality of nanoholes. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13  wherein said nanoholes are spaced-apart at various periodicities for detection of a plurality of said resonant peaks, each said resonant peak corresponding to a respective periodicity. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14  wherein said periodicity has a range from 380 nanometers to 10 micrometers. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 13  wherein said nanoholes are formed with a predetermined fill factor that is chosen to yield a predetermined bandwidth for said predetermined resonant peak.